Adonijah’s Bid for Power

⁵ Adonijah son of Haggith^(A) kept exalting himself, saying, “I will be king!” He prepared chariots, cavalry, and fifty men to run ahead of him.^[a](B)

⁷ He conspired^[a] with Joab son of Zeruiah^(A) and with the priest Abiathar.^(B) They supported^(C) Adonijah, ⁸ but the priest Zadok,^(D) Benaiah son of Jehoiada,^(E) the prophet Nathan,^(F) Shimei,^(G) Rei, and David’s royal guard^[b](H) did not side with Adonijah.

⁹ Adonijah sacrificed sheep, goats, cattle, and fattened cattle near the stone of Zoheleth, which is next to En-rogel.^(I) He invited all his royal brothers and all the men of Judah, the servants of the king,^{(J) 10} but he did not invite the prophet Nathan, Benaiah, the royal guard, or his brother Solomon.^(K)